Workers united: Hundreds rally in support of unions, middle class

Sunday

Feb 27, 2011 at 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — "This is what we have to do to make change," Michael Tully told his 4-year old daughter Briana, who sat atop his shoulders cautiously eyeing the hundreds of protestors that crowded Market Square Saturday.

Jennifer Feals

PORTSMOUTH — "This is what we have to do to make change," Michael Tully told his 4-year old daughter Briana, who sat atop his shoulders cautiously eyeing the hundreds of protestors that crowded Market Square Saturday.

Tully, a firefighter from North Hampton, was one of an estimated 800 firefighter, police, steel, teacher and other union members and their supporters who came from around the state to raise local awareness and show "solidarity" with Wisconsin workers, and to stand up against what they called reckless attacks against New Hampshire's middle class.

"This is a grass-roots movement that turned into everything this country is about," said Jerry Biggart, a firefighter from suburban Milwaukee, Wis., who travelled to Portsmouth for Saturday's rally.

With signs reading "New Hampshire Supports Wisconsin Unions," "Union Pride," and "Worker's rights: Priceless," protestors chanted, "We're with the union, we're here to help," "We will not be pushed around, we will fight to stand our ground," and "Standing for all to see, we will fight for our families." A handful of people were present Saturday siding against the pro-union stance, like local conservative watchdog Mark Brighton, who carried a sign reading, "My Wallet Says No," and chanted, "Unions are like seagulls, eat poop and squawk," much to the outrage of union members and supporters.

The rally follows an overwhelming vote Wednesday to make New Hampshire the first state in the Northeast to enact a "right-to-work" law that would block unions from compelling payment from employees, allowing workers to decide whether or not they wish to join labor unions. The 221-131 vote sends the bill to the state Senate without the two-thirds super majority that would be needed to overcome a potential veto from Gov. John Lynch, who opposes the bill.

In Wisconsin, there are efforts to strip union bargaining rights, leading to large pro-labor demonstrations.

"This problem was not created by a snowplow driver, or a teacher, or anyone else in organized labor," said Biggart who came to Portsmouth in hopes of raising awareness so that other states will not face what union workers in Wisconsin are facing. "Stop trying to fix your problem on the back of the worker. You can make it as hard as you want for me to be a union member. It's never going to change. You'll pull that union card out of my dead hands."

Worker's rights were "pioneered" in Wisconsin, Biggart said, and "if they can collapse worker's rights in Wisconsin, it would be a tidal wave throughout the country."

"We don't want to see any state in this country go through what we're going through."

Madison Memorial High School teacher Glee Brechler, who is from Arena, Wis., has been at the forefront of demonstrations in Wisconsin and argued Saturday that collective bargaining agreements are negotiated promises that need to be kept. She came to New Hampshire to share the "urgency to speak out."

"We need to make sure that people understand that a collective bargaining agreement is not just a union-created document, but an agreement between employers and workers," she said, calling the changes proposed in Wisconsin "a horrific step backwards." "Without collective bargaining, unions become powerless and broken."

Attendees included former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and current House Minority Leader Terie Norelli, who said there is "an attack on the working class," not just in Wisconsin, but in New Hampshire as well, citing the "so-called Right-to-Work" law.

"There are changes needed," she said, for instance to the state's retirement system, but she added that they "need to be reasonable changes that support the rights of working families."

"They're being blamed for problems that aren't their fault," she said.

Union members spoke up Saturday for the right to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with a living wage and benefits in exchange for their public service.

"It seems like people who are having a hard time are trying to blame employees," said Portsmouth Firefighter and EMT Scott Young, who held a sign reading, "Firefighters are not the enemy, we are public servants." "We are trying to serve the public," he said. "We do our jobs. There are certain things that we give up to do our jobs and we're proud to do it. The unions have a right to negotiate."

The rally was the first step of what will be a "sustained effort" to fight for New Hampshire's middle class and their families, said Judy Stradtman, of Seacoast for Change, who was one of the rally's organizers.

She said Saturday's turnout shows that people are paying attention and are ready to stand up for worker's rights and working families.

"I think this is just the beginning. It's going to take some work to make sure we don't end up as a right-to-work-for-less state," she said. "We're really seeing this as the beginning of a sustained effort."

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